2016Procedia Computer ScienceOpen access

A Fully Coupled XFEM-EDFM Model for Multiphase Flow and Geomechanics in Fractured Tight Gas Reservoirs

Guotong Ren, Jiamin Jiang, Rami M. Younis

Open full text 33 citations

Abstract

Unconventional reservoirs are typically comprised of a multicontinuum stimulated formation, with complex fracture networks that have a wide range of length scales and geometries. A timely topic in the simulation of unconventional petroleum resources is in coupling the geomechanics of the fractured media to multiphase fluid flow and transport. We propose a XFEM-EDFM method which couples geomechanics with multiphase flow in fractured tight gas reservoirs. A proppant model is developed to simulate propped hydraulic fractures. The method is verified by analytical solutions. A simulation example with the configuration of two multiple-fractured horizontal wells is investigated. The influence of stress-dependent fracture permeability on cumulative production is analyzed.

Open-access reader

About this research paper

What this paper is about

Unconventional reservoirs are typically comprised of a multicontinuum stimulated formation, with complex fracture networks that have a wide range of length scales and geometries. A timely topic in the simulation of unconventional petroleum resources is in coupling the geomechanics of the fractured media to multiphase fluid flow and transport. We propose a XFEM-EDFM method which couples geomechanics with multiphase flow in fractured tight gas reservoirs. A proppant model is developed to simulate propped hydraulic fractures. The method is verified by analytical solutions. A simulation example with the configuration of two multiple-fractured horizontal wells is investigated. The influence of stress-dependent fracture permeability on cumulative production is analyzed.

Why it matters

OpenAlex reports 33 citations for this work. Citation counts describe recorded attention and do not establish research quality.

Key contribution

A contribution statement is not available in the OpenAlex record.

Method / approach

Method details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Main findings

Findings are not separately available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Limitations

Limitations are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Applications

Application details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Available abstract

Unconventional reservoirs are typically comprised of a multicontinuum stimulated formation, with complex fracture networks that have a wide range of length scales and geometries. A timely topic in the simulation of unconventional petroleum resources is in coupling the geomechanics of the fractured media to multiphase fluid flow and transport. We propose a XFEM-EDFM method which couples geomechanics with multiphase flow in fractured tight gas reservoirs. A proppant model is developed to simulate propped hydraulic fractures. The method is verified by analytical solutions. A simulation example with the configuration of two multiple-fractured horizontal wells is investigated. The influence of stress-dependent fracture permeability on cumulative production is analyzed.

Key concepts: Geomechanics, Tight gas, Hydraulic fracturing, Permeability (electromagnetism), Multiphase flow, Petroleum engineering, Geology, Reservoir simulation

Related papers

Back to paper searchBrowse research topicsOriginal source
A Fully Coupled XFEM-EDFM Model for Multiphase Flow and Geomechanics in Fractured Tight Gas Reservoirs — Research Paper | ScholarLens